Garment wih expandable appendages

ABSTRACT

A garment having expandable legs or sleeves. Various sized openings are provided in the legs or sleeves and are adjustably closable by a variety of means including elastic bands, lacing, and buttons.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to the field of garments and more specifically pants and shirts or blouses having respectively expandable legs and sleeves.

2. Description of the Prior Art

It is known to provide elastic bands, lacing, and buttons to control the size of pants and shirts thereby achieving a close fitting garment. It is further known to provide various openings in pants and shirts to allow air to circulate within the garment and also allow the person's legs or arms to be seen through the openings.

Garments must be attractively designed while providing a reasonably tailored fit. I have combined the prior fastening methods with various techniques of openings provided in pant legs and shirt sleeves while providing an attractive appearance. Disclosed herein are various combinations to accomplish such a tailored fit and attractive appearance.

My garment is designed to automatically adjust to the size of the arm or leg extending through the sleeve or pant leg. For example, even though an arm may be thin or thick the sleeve incorporating my invention will conformingly fit while allowing for an attractive opening.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One embodiment of the present invention is a garment that expands to snugly receive the limbs of a human. A pair of tubular shaped appendages are attached to the main body of the garment. The appendages include longitudinal axes and first openings extending along the axes. The openings have widths to allow the limbs within the appendages to be seen. A plurality of elastic members with opposite ends are attached to the appendages and span the openings. The elastic members are normally biased to reduce the widths of the openings but yieldable under pressure of the limbs to allow the widths to increase while fittingly holding the appendages around the limbs.

Another embodiment of the present invention is a garment that expands to snugly receive the limbs of a human. A pair of tubular shaped appendages are attached to the main body of the garment. The appendages include longitudinal axes and first and second openings extending along the axes. The openings have widths to allow the limbs within the appendages to be seen. Strings are laced through the appendages adjacent the first openings to control the widths of the openings to fittingly hold the appendages around the limbs. Fasteners are mounted to the appendages adjacent the second openings to control the size of the second openings to fittingly hold the appendages around the limbs.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a form-fitting garment that has attractively designed openings extending along the length of the garment leg or sleeve.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a garment having a leg or sleeve with a longitudinally extending opening closable by elastic strips.

In addition, it is an object of the present invention to provide a garment with a leg or sleeve having a longitudinally extending slit closable by lacing.

Further, it is an object of the present invention to provide a garment having legs or sleeves with longitudinally extending openings closable by fastening devices, such as buttons.

Related objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side view of pants incorporating the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view of pants incorporating a first alternate embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a side view of pants incorporating a second alternate embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a side view of pants incorporating a third alternate embodiment.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged view taken along a line and viewed in the direction of arrows 5-5 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is a view taken along a line and viewed in the direction of arrow 6-6 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 7 is a front view of a shirt incorporating the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the one of the sleeves of the shirt of FIG. 7 illustrating the first alternate embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary view of one of the sleeves of the shirt of FIG. 7 illustrating the second alternate embodiment.

FIG. 10 is an enlarged fragmentary view of one of the sleeves of the shirt of FIG. 7 illustrating a fourth alternate embodiment.

FIG. 11 is the same view as FIG. 8 only showing the elastic member extending the length and width of the slit.

FIG. 12 is the same view as FIG. 1 only showing the elastic member extending the length and width of the slit.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference will now be made to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended, such alterations and further modifications in the illustrated device, and such further applications of the principles of the invention as illustrated therein being contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates.

Referring now more particularly to FIG. 1, there is illustrated a side view of a pair of pants 20 having an upper portion 21 to fit around the waist of the person and pants leg 22 extending downwardly therefrom. A opening or slit 23 extends along the length of leg 22 in the direction of the longitudinal axis 29 extending centrally through the leg. Slit 23 has multiple curved portions extending generally in a serpentine path between its top end 24 and bottom end 25. The opposing edges of slit 23 are generally spaced apart allowing the person's leg to be viewed through the slit. Further, depending upon the size of the person's leg relative to the pants, air may be allowed to pass through the slit to circulate within the pants leg. A plurality of elastic bands or members 26, 27 and 28 each have opposite ends fixedly fastened, by stitching, to the opposing edge portions of slit 23. The elastic bands span the width of the slit and are sized to normally allow the opposing slit edges to be spaced apart. The elastic bands 26-28 are each of a one-piece construction. Once a person puts on pants 20, the elastic members 26-28 are yieldable under pressure of the limbs within the pant legs to allow the widths of the slits to increase while fittingly holding the pants legs around the limbs of the person. Once the person takes off pants 20, elastic members 26-28 are normally biased to reduce the widths of the slits to the original positions. Only one pants leg is depicted in FIG. 1, although it is to be understood the second pants leg also is provided with a slit and elastic members identical to slit 23 and members 26-28.

The preferred embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 1 is also incorporated into shirt 101 depicted in FIG. 7. Shirt 101 is conventional in design having a pair of front portions 102 and 103 securable together by conventional buttons 104. The shirt has a pair of sleeves 105 and 106 each of which has the novel slit and elastic member combination identical to slit 23 and elastic members 26-28 described for leg 21. Thus, the elastic members secured to the opposing edge portions of the slits provided on sleeves 105 and 106 are normally biased to reduce the widths of the slits but are yieldable under pressure of the arms extending through the sleeves to allow the widths of the slits to increase while fittingly holding the sleeves around the arms. When arms are not positioned within sleeve 105 and 106, the slits are not closed. Both pant legs 21 and sleeves 105 and 106 are tubular shaped appendages that are attached by conventional means, such as, by sewing, to the main body of respectively the pants and shirt.

A first alternate embodiment is depicted for the pants legs and sleeves in FIGS. 2 and 8. Pants 30 has a pants leg 31 with a longitudinal axis 32 extending centrally through the leg. Opening or slit 33 extends the length of the leg along axis 32 and has a top end 34 and bottom end 35. Slit 33 does not follow the serpentine path, as is the case for slit 23, and instead has a plurality of enlarged rounded apertures 36, 37, 38, and 39 separated apart by a plurality of narrow slits or channels 61, 62, 63, and 64 with the channels inter-spaced between the round apertures. Elastic members 40, 41, 42, and 43 identical to elastic members 26-28 are located within channels 61-64 and have opposite ends attached to the mutually opposed edge portions of slit 33. Elastic members 40-43 span channels 61-64 and are normally biased to allow the mutually opposed edge portions of each channel to be separated apart allowing air to enter the pants leg and allow the limb to be visible therefrom. The elastic members operate in the same manner as elastic members 26-28.

Shirt 101 may include the first alternate embodiment as depicted for sleeve 120 that has a slit 121 identical to slit 33 extending along the longitudinal axis 122 of the sleeve. Slit 121 includes a plurality of rounded apertures 123 identical to the rounded apertures for the pants leg of FIG. 2 with the rounded apertures separated apart by the narrow channels 124 identical to channels 61-64. Further, elastic bands 125 span the channels and are operable in the same manner as bands 40-43 to normally allow the mutually opposed edge portions of the slit to remain apart with the elastic members stretching or expanding once the limb is extended through the tubular sleeve to conformingly fit the sleeve to the limb. The elastic members are operable to urge the mutually opposed edges of the slit towards each other thereby reducing the width of the slit once the limb is withdrawn from the sleeve.

Second and third alternate embodiments of the pants leg are depicted respectively in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4. Each pants 50 and 70 include respectively openings 53 and 73 located at the respective top portions 51 and 71 of the pants. Eyelets 55 and 75 are provided respectively on the adjacent edge portions of openings 53 and 73. Lacing such as shoe lacing 56 and 76 are extended through respectively eyelets 55 and 75 to allow the mutually opposed edge portions of each opening 53 and 73 to be drawn together thereby reducing the width of the opening and allowing the top portion of the pants to fittingly receive the upper portion of the person's leg. Openings 53 and 73 allow a portion of the person's leg to be viewed unless the lacing is tightened to such an extent that the mutually opposed edges of openings 53 and 73 are in abuttingly relationship. Both openings 53 and 73 extend in the direction respectively along the longitudinal axis 65 of pants 50 and longitudinal axis 66 of pants 70. The lacing or string allows the person to control the size of opening 53 and 73.

The bottom portion of each pants 50 and 70 includes an additional opening that may be opened or closed depending upon whether buttons on the pants leg are extended through adjacent buttonholes. In the embodiment of FIG. 3, the bottom portion of pants leg 52 includes a pair of flanges 57 and 58 that extend outwardly in a perpendicular direction from the pants leg. Flanges 57 and 58 are produced from the same material as the main body of the pants leg and may be attached thereto by sewing or other suitable means. A slot or opening 54 extends in the direction of axis 65 between flanges 57 and 58. A plurality of buttons 59 are mounted to flange 57 on the surface of the flange facing flange 58. Further, a plurality of buttonholes 60 are provided on flange 58 to receive buttons 59 thereby effectively reducing the width of opening 54 and even closing the opening. With the buttons not extending through the buttonholes, flanges 57 and 58 are not in contact with each other thereby allowing the width of slot or opening 54 to be increased to its maximum width as the leg applies pressure to the pants leg. A portion of the leg may be viewed through slot 54 when the buttons are not engaged by the buttonholes whereas the bottom portion 52 of the pants leg fittingly conforms to the leg when the buttons are extended through the buttonholes.

In the third alternate embodiment, the bottom portion of pants leg 71 (FIG. 4) has a pair of flanges 77 and 78 normally positioned in the plane of the pants leg. That is, flanges 77 and 78 do not extend perpendicular therefrom and are located on the opposite sides of slot 74. Flanges 77 and 78 may be integral with the pants leg or may be attached thereto by sewing or other suitable means. Flange 77 is provided with buttons 79 mounted to the outwardly facing surface thereof whereas flange 78 is provided with a plurality of buttonholes. By extending flange 78 outwardly and over flange 77, buttons 79 may be extended through buttonholes 80 thereby reducing the width of the slot and effectively closing the slot so that the leg can no longer be viewed and at the same time conformingly fitting the bottom portion of the pants leg to the leg.

While the various openings and means for closing the openings depicted in the embodiments of FIGS. 3 and 4 have been shown as located only in a single leg of the pants, it is to be understood that the remaining leg of each pants includes similar or identical openings and means for securing the opening in a closed or opened position. Shirt 101 may also be provided with the openings and means for closing the openings depicted in FIGS. 3 and 4. For example, sleeve 140 (FIG. 9) of shirt 101 may be provided with an opening 141 that extends in the direction of axis 142 extending centrally through the sleeve. Lacing 143 is provided to open or close opening 141 in a manner identical to lacing 56 and opening 53. Likewise, sleeve 140 is provided with a slot 144 at the outer end of the sleeve identical to either slot 54 or 74 with slots 54, 74, and 144 extending in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the leg or sleeve. Flanges are provided on each side of slot 144 identical to flanges 57/58 or 77/78 with button and buttonholes provided to close slot 144 in a manner identical to that described for the pants leg.

A fourth embodiment of the invention includes a pants leg or sleeve having all three of the previously described openings and means for closing the openings. For example, sleeve 160 attached to shirt 101 includes three openings 161, 162, and 163 extending in the direction of the longitudinal axis 164 that extends centrally through the sleeve. Lacing 165, elastic bands 166 and buttons 167 along with associated buttonholes are provided to close and open respectively openings 161, 162, and 163 in a manner identical to that described for opening 53, 33, 54, or 74. Further, opening 162 may be designed along a serpentine path such as opening 23. In other words, sleeve 160 may be fitted with any or all of the openings and means for closing the openings described for any of the embodiments disclosed herein.

Many variations are contemplated and included in the present invention. For example, elastic bands 26-28 and 40-43 are shown as elastic strips; however, the strips may take the form of elastic net that may extend the entire length of the slit such as depicted in FIG. 11 wherein sleeve 170 includes a slit 171 that extends the entire length of the leg or sleeve with the elastic net 172 extending across the entire width and length of the slit. A similar or identical approach may be provided for pants leg 22 shown in FIG. 12 having a slit 180 identical to slit 23 (FIG. 1) with slit 180 including elastic net 182 extending the width and length of slit 180 from the top 181 to the bottom 25 of the slit. The elastic net 172 and 182 functions in the same way as elastic bands 26-28.

While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, the same is to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character, it being understood that only the preferred embodiments have been shown and described and that all changes and modifications that come within the spirit of the invention are desired to be protected. 

1. A garment that expands to snugly receive the limbs of a human comprising: a main body to be worn by a human; and, a pair of tubular shaped appendages attached to said main body to wrap around and snugly receive the limbs of a human, said appendages each including longitudinal axes and first openings extending along said axes, said openings having widths to allow said limbs within said appendages to be seen; and, a plurality of elastic members with opposite ends attached to said appendages and spanning said openings, said elastic members normally biased to reduce said widths of said openings but yieldable under pressure of said limbs to allow said widths to increase while fittingly holding said appendages around said limbs.
 2. The garment of claim 1 wherein: said openings includes a plurality of enlarged rounded apertures and a plurality of narrow slits inter-spaced between said apertures, said elastic members are located on said appendages spanning said narrow slits.
 3. The garment of claim 1 wherein: said appendages include a plurality of second openings extending along said axes to allow said limbs within said appendages to be seen through said second openings; and further comprising: a plurality of strings laced through said appendages adjacent said second openings to control the size of said second openings to fittingly receive said appendages around said limbs.
 4. The garment of claim 1 wherein: said appendages include a plurality of additional openings extending along said axes to allow said limbs within said appendages to be seen through said additional openings; and further comprising: a plurality of fasteners mounted to said appendages adjacent said additional openings to control the size of said additional openings to fittingly receive said appendages around said limbs.
 5. The garment of claim 4 and further comprising: a plurality of flanges on said appendages at said additional openings with said flanges having male fastening elements and female fastening elements thereon to releaseably lock together to control the size of said additional openings.
 6. The garment of claim 5 wherein: said flanges extend outwardly from said appendages with mutually facing surfaces, said female fastening elements are buttonholes and said male fastening elements are buttons mounted to one of said facing surfaces.
 7. The garment of claim 5 wherein: said flanges are positioned flush with said appendages, said female fastening elements are buttonholes and said male fastening elements are buttons with said flanges overlapping when said buttons are positioned within said button holes concealing said additional openings and being disengaged from said buttonholes allowing said limbs to be seen through said additional openings.
 8. The garment of claim 1 wherein: said appendages include a plurality of second openings extending along said axes to allow said limbs within said appendages to be seen through said second openings; and further comprising: a plurality of strings laced through said appendages adjacent said second openings to control the size of said second openings to fittingly receive said appendages around said limbs; and wherein: said appendages include a plurality of third openings extending along said axes to allow said limbs within said appendages to be seen through said third openings; and further comprising: a plurality of fasteners mounted to said appendages adjacent said third openings to control the size of said third openings to fittingly receive said appendages around said limbs.
 9. The garment of claim 8 wherein: said first openings extend along serpentine paths.
 10. The garment of claim 1 wherein: said openings extend along serpentine paths.
 11. A garment that expands to snugly receive the limbs of a human comprising: a main body to be worn by a human; a pair of tubular shaped appendages attached to said main body to wrap around and snugly receive the limbs of a human, said appendages each including longitudinal axes and first openings extending along said axes, said openings having widths to allow said limbs within said appendages to be seen; a plurality of strings laced through said appendages adjacent said openings to control the widths of said openings to fittingly receive said appendages around said limbs, said appendages include a plurality of second openings extending along said axes to allow said limbs within said appendages to be seen through said second openings; and, a plurality of fasteners mounted to said appendages adjacent said second openings to control the size of said second openings to fittingly receive said appendages around said limbs,
 12. The garment of claim 11 and further comprising: a plurality of flanges on said appendages at said second openings with said flanges having male fastening elements and female fastening elements thereon to releaseably lock together to control the size of said second openings.
 13. The garment of claim 12 wherein: said flanges extend outwardly from said appendages with mutually facing surfaces, said female fastening elements are buttonholes and said male fastening elements are buttons mounted to one of said facing surfaces.
 14. The garment of claim 13 wherein: said flanges are positioned flush with said appendages, said female fastening elements are buttonholes and said male fastening elements are buttons with said flanges overlapping when said buttons are positioned within said button holes concealing said second openings and being disengaged from said buttonholes allowing said limbs to be seen through said second openings.
 15. A garment that expands to snugly receive the limbs of a human comprising: a main body to be worn by a human; and, a pair of tubular shaped appendages attached to said main body to wrap around and snugly receive the limbs of a human, said appendages including longitudinal axes and each including first openings and second openings extending along said axes, said first openings and said second openings having widths to allow said limbs within said appendages to be seen; a plurality of fasteners mounted to said appendages adjacent said first openings to control the size of said first openings to fittingly receive said appendages around said limbs; a plurality of flanges on said appendages at said first openings with said flanges having male fastening elements and female fastening elements thereon to releaseably lock together to control the size of said first openings; and elastic means attached to said appendage at each of said second openings to control the width thereof.
 16. The garment of claim 15 wherein: said flanges extend outwardly from said appendages with mutually facing surfaces, said female fastening elements are buttonholes and said male fastening elements are buttons mounted to one of said facing surfaces.
 17. The garment of claim 16 wherein: said flanges are positioned flush with said appendages, said female fastening elements are buttonholes and said male fastening elements are buttons with said flanges overlapping when said buttons are positioned within said button holes concealing said first openings and being disengaged from said buttonholes allowing said limbs to be seen through said first openings. 